The 1989 Royals were another example of so close yet so far. They finished the campaign with a record of 92 and 70, which was the third-best mark in all of baseball. The only obstacles were the Oakland A’s, a powerhouse at the time, bested the Royals by a full seven games. Those A’s then went on to win the World Series over the Giants in what was remembered as both the Bay Series and the Earthquake Series.
Had a Wild Card playoff system been in effect, say something like the four teams with the highest win percentage in both leagues make the playoffs, the Royals would have secured Wild Card spots in 1971, 1973, 1975, 1982 and 1989.